The Nintendo Switch has been a major success this year, with high sales of the system and both indie and AAA games. Developers have noted high sales of their games and games that struggled on some platforms have found success on the system. This has reached the point where games like Wasteland 2 are now coming to the system due to the success the Switch has been having so far.
But what is the reason for this success? Well, the answer to that is the fact that the Switch has changed the way people view gaming. As my friend Nelson said, playing a story game or lengthy RPG typically requires you to sit by a computer or TV while you play. You are stationary and in a sense, trapped by the game. Sure you can take breaks, but in the end the game can only be played at one spot.
But with the Switch, this is not the case due to the hybrid nature of the system. A long RPG or story driven game becomes something you can play on the go or even in bed. I have spent several nights before going to sleep, just relaxing and playing some RPGs or beat em ups on the system, and as others have noted, the Switch is great for people who travel. A long game becomes perfect for someone taking a flight and needs a distraction, and the sheer amount of games offers variety if people get tired of the game they are playing.
In other words, games that would require a significant time commitment before can now be played in small bite sized portions and be enjoyed in the way a player sees fit. This also has another effect as well, and that is that people might want to check out even more games on the system that can be played this way. This could very well explain why so many games have found success on the system compared to other platforms. I have seen firsthand, players of fighting games want more of the genre on the Switch so they can continue playing on the go. And as I mentioned at the beginning, developers who wrote off the Switch initially are now getting on board such as InXile Entertainment with Wasteland 2.
The Switch was intended by Nintendo to be a new way to play and it seems that they truly succeeded with that goal. This is a system that has changed the way people view and play games, and is the system for people who are constantly moving, as it offers them a fun way to play as well as giving other gamers a new experience. This really is a system for everyone.
Disclaimer: The Above is the opinion of the author and not necessarily that of Real Otaku Gamer or its staff.
Check out Nelson’s post here.